Calling young superheroes

By Lachlan Ellis

The Ballan Autumn Festival will be back to its regular autumn timeslot this year, and kids will be a big part of the superhero-themed celebrations.

The superheroes theme has been carried over from the cancelled 2020 BAF, and local kids and teens have been invited to take part in the ‘Design A Superhero’ competition, with the best designs to go on public display and win prizes.

The Wombat Regional Arts Network’s children’s workshops for the competition have concluded, but there’s still time to enter – entries can be lodged in the boxes provided at the Ballan Newsagent, Zest Café, and Gordon General Store, by 5 pm on Monday 6 February.

Lou Callow from the Wombat Regional Arts Network said it was exciting to be getting more young people involved in the local art scene.

“Wombat Arts received a Moorabool Shire Council grant specifically for the workshops to support BAF. Whilst the parade showcases people of all ages – the schools and kinder are just delightful to witness – we feel it is important to include young people in the arts and showcase them around town,” Ms Callow said.

“The under 12 age bracket for designing superheroes will be displayed in Zest Café’s windows, and the older children’s work will be included in the ‘Autumn’ themed exhibition in the Ballan Arts Space over the month of March. We also plan to print selected works as large posters to display around the town.”

Winners will be picked from three Age Groups: Under 6, 7 to 12, and 13 to 18, under the categories Most Colourful, Most Inventive, Most Inspiring Superhero to Be, and Audience Choice.

A winner from each Age Group will win a shirt with their superhero printed on it, and Zest Café will also provide free milkshakes for the winners.

The Wombat Regional Arts Network is also running free workshops in February for streetscape banner painting, allowing people of all ages to contribute to the incredible banners that decorate Ballan during the Autumn Festival.

Dates for banner painting workshops and any other information is available online at www.wombatarts.org.